A Closer Look at Allergen Immunotherapy

One of the worst betrayals that your body can ever do to you is becoming allergic to something. While almost everyone has an allergy of some sort, some individuals have it even worse by developing a food allergy. For whatever reason, the body decided that the chemical makeup of that particular food was a foreign invader. Food allergies can be lethal if the person ingests the item that they’re allergic to. This is because, by ingesting, the body has to react in delicate organs that may not survive the allergic response. Besides lethality, being allergic to food just isn’t fun. If you want to try and cure yourself of your own food allergy, then you may want to consider allergen immunotherapy.

What is Allergen Immunotherapy?

In an effort to cure allergies, scientists and researchers have sought various treatments and methods. One of those treatments that were found to have a decent success rate was immunotherapy. In this treatment, patients were given small doses of the substance that they were allergic to. Because it was given in small doses, the body was able to become desensitized to it. When the item was introduced to their body in full, because their body was already used to it, the allergic response no longer was triggered. As a result, they were free from their allergy.

An example of this is a treatment for bee stings. Many people are actually allergic to bee stings. In fact, the venom in a bee sting affects everyone to some degree. However, those who had an actual allergy to the venom were at risk of lethal consequences if stung one too many times. They underwent immunotherapy. In this case, the venom from the bee was inserted into their body in even smaller dosages. Over time, the body stopped seeing it as a foreign invader and instead ignored it.

Allergen immunotherapy works in much the same way. Immunotherapy isn’t a cure for allergies in itself. Instead, it focuses on increasing the threshold in which an individual’s body undergoes an allergic response. This can prove useful if you are accidentally exposed to your allergy without warning. The reaction may not be as severe if it occurs at all.

Receive Help Today

If your allergy is ruining your life, then you should consider some type of allergen immunotherapy with the experts at Asthma Allergy Centre. By booking an appointment at one of our locations in Tigard, Beaverton, Newberg, or McMinnville, we can get you started with the therapy and start helping you regulate your allergy. Contact us today to schedule a consultation!